Skip to main content

For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”?

For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”?(Matthew 9:5)

Jesus never asked easy questions. This one has divided discussions for many centuries. Before healing this paralyzed man, Jesus says to him to "Take heart, your sins are forgiven." Whoa! That upset the "religious" men there, who immediately accused Jesus of blasphemy. So, before Jesus heals the man, He asks the question above, "For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? In the human perspective, I personally think it is easier for us to tell someone their sins are forgiven if they ask for forgiveness from God. We do not have authority to forgive sins, only those which some may commit against us; but to tell a paralyzed man to "Stand up and walk" would be a foolish thing, perhaps offensive to the person and those who hear it.

Ours is a task of telling people that God's love is sufficient to forgive all sins if they but ask; the job of healing in miraculous ways still belongs to God, regardless of what televangelists may say. The message remains the same: God loves us enough to make us whole in His eyes in those areas in which we find our need; and sometimes the removal of sin may remove our physical ailments as well.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? (John 21:22)

If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Image from bandofbrothersdevotional.com Peter asked Jesus a question about "the beloved disciple," who was John. Peter wanted to know what would happen to John. Jesus replied with the question: If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? And the question was immediately followed by a command, "Follow me!" We can preoccupy ourselves with matters about other people, but the question Jesus asks is about us and what we are doing. And the same command follows that: Follow me! We have barely enough time to worry about our spiritual life, why spend too much time worrying about those for whom we can probably do nothing for? It's like the airline procedure; make sure you're first, then help out. But, Jesus still says, "Follow me!" Dear friends, thank you for reading these points. This was the last question asked by Jesus and so this ends this blog. I have...
1 comment
Read more

But to what will I compare this generation?

But to what will I compare this generation? (Matthew 11:16) This question comes during Jesus' discussion about John the Baptist and his ministry and purpose. Jesus is lamenting that while many were touched by it, the generation of unbelievers still continued in their wicked ways. The utter reality of that way of life leaves Jesus asking this question; Could there possibly be anything to compare to a generation that refuses a relationship with their God? How do you see our generation honestly? Have we improved and gotten ourselves closer to God? While I believe there is hope, there is still much to do.
2 comments
Read more

But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’

But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’ (Matthew 26:54) ' Jesus knew to trust God. Jesus knew God's plan for His life, and trusted all that happened, because He had read about it. This question asks the question, even when He is being arrested after His betrayal by a dear friend and disciple. "How else would the greater thing happen, if this was not necessary?" We tend to get angry and cry that things did not work out our way, but if we could step back and see from a perspective of faith that what may be coming after the incident that made us cry, we would smile and say, God knows better, and this that happened can serve to teach me something. The key is to stay connected with God by reading the scriptures. There's a lot of wealth and wisdom to be found in the Bible's pages, and they don't magically come out; we must open the Bible, pray as we read, and reap the blessings that it contains for our lives.
1 comment
Read more